General Forum

My thoughts align with Billy's. To me, trading cards of figures represent history; it represents a snapshot in time of someone who partook in some event that I care about. That is why I collect. Sure, there may be some guys that I don't actively seek out because because of something off the field. (For instance, I'm not going to go out of my way to try and collect Jose Altuve) That is all fine and well, but to completely reject or, worse, actually destroy cards of a certain player based on their beliefs or actions is, symbolically, equal to trying to erase history.

History must be embraced -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. That is how humanity learns (or how we should learn) -- from our mistakes. To attempt to wipe out all of what one perceives as evil or wrong is (a) arrogant, because there is an underlying assumption that what you believe is unequivocally correct, and that there is no possible way you could be wrong, and (b) ethically wrong in general because even if you are correct, you are essentially trying to eliminate a lesson humanity has already learned, forcing us to possibly have to learn it again -- at least in theory. 

It depends on the situation. If I collected a player that was involved in an assualt/murder/robbery I would definitly move on and sell off what I did have. I don't like the idea of having that bad energy in my collection.

I'm generally a set collector, so my answer is more speculation than anything else. But my favorite players are often just that because of their personal qualities, along with their prowess on the field. Ryne Sandberg, Lou Brock, Nolan Ryan, Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente, Anthony Rizzo, Lee Smith, Greg Maddux. They all seem like good guys. If I learned that one did something terrible, I'd keep their cards, but if I was a player collector, I wouldn't go after that player anymore, because that player wouldn't be a favorite anymore. (To be honest, I always found the player collectors just a bit...creepy/obsessive/something. I once thought of putting all Lou Brock cards on the wall, but it felt just a bit too...shrine-ish for my tastes.)

I also think the cards are history. When I was hunting a 1941 Play Ball, there were no Cubs, so I looked for the beautiful, affordable card I could find. Turned out it was Pinky Higgins. And it turns out he was one of the biggest reasons the Red Sox were the last team to intergrate. But all my pre-Topps cards are on my shelf with personally made labels containing interesting facts. And Pinky's label includes the phrase "Strongly opposed integrated baseball." So I guess just put an asterisk on him. And I'd never try to collect all his cards. 

Similarly, I (sadly) just cannot listen to my Bill Cosby record collection anymore. 

Good topic. 

v3

I am suprised no one mentioned Bobby Orr.  When Orr took out a full page endorsement of Trump in the paper a few months ago, there was hellfire afterwards condemining him and many saying they lost thier hero.  I saw a few firesales of Bobby Orr cards on facebook shortly afterwards.  Seems like over reacting to me, but I have never been in that position.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure, you use it will be measured to you.

Sorry if you can hear me laughing at you. But the bottom line is you are throwing away something that you spent money on? So why even bother. 

As they keep pushing and say that people that have served in a war, are now considered serial killers. Will you jump in on that one too??

Too bad I missed the great Orr selloff!  I don't care about his politics and would have happily snapped up a cheap auto if I saw one.

Maybe Don Cherry brainwashed him...